(as we may call it) to wit, the boly Oracle, which after a refplendent manner, fhined from the breft-plate of the High-Prieft: The truth whereof was fo ftrongly believed by all the Jews to have continued until the deftruction of the firft Temple, that out of all doubt, their Ancestors had certain knowledge concerning the fame."

Like to this from miracles there is another argument as forcible and effectual to prove GOD's Providence, taken from thofe Predictions of future events, which among the Hebrews were many, and manifeft. Such was that Prophecy of his being made Childlefs, who fhould attempt to re-edifie feriche: And that at the Overthrow of the Temple at Bethel by a King named Jofiah, foretold above Three Hundred Years before the thing came to pafs. So likewife the very name, and chief acts of Cyrus, foretold by Ifaiab: The event of Hierufalem's fiege by theChaldæans,fore. hown by Jeremiah: So alfo Daniel's Prediction touching the translation of the Empire of the Affyrians unto the Medes and Perfians; then from them unto Alexander of Macedon, whofe Empire fhould afterward, in part, be divided among the Succeffors of Ptolemy and Seleucus. And what evils also the Hebrew Nation fhould fuffer from all these, but especially from Antiochus Epiphanes; which were fo clearly foretold, that Porphyry, who compared with thefe Predictions, fuch Grecian Hiftories as were extant in his time, could no otherwife tell how to fhift them off, than by faying, that thofe things which were father'd upon Daniel, were written after fuch time as they came to pafs; which is all one, as if one fhould deny that that was written in the time of Auguftus, which hath been published in Virgil's

name,

name, and was always reputed for Virgil's work: For there was never any more fcruple made of the former amongst the Hebrews, than of this latter amongst the Romans.

To these things we may add very many, and moft famous Oracles among the People of Mexico and Peru; which foretold the coming of the Spaniards into thofe Countries, and the calamities which should thereupon follow. And hither alfo may be referred, not a few dreams, fo exactly agreeing with the events, which both in themselves, and in their Caufes, were wholly unknown to them that dreamed, that they cannot, without great immodefty, be referred to chance, or to natural caufes: Of which kind Tertullian, in his Book Of the Soul, hath collected illuftrious examples, out of the moft approved Authors. Spectres alfo, or Apparitions, belong to this head; which have been not only feen, but heard to fpeak; as thofe Hiftorians relate, who are the fartheft from fuperftitious credulity; and is reported by Witneffes of our own Age, who have lived in China, and in Mexico, and other parts of America. Nor are publick trials of innocence, by touching of red hot Plow-fhares, to be defpifed, which the Hiftories of fo many German Nations, and the Laws themselves have remembred.

SECT.

SECT. XVII.

The Objection is answered, why Miracles are not now to be feen.

N

Either is there any reafon to object against fuch Miracles, because there are not the like to be seen in these days, neither the like predictions heard of; for it is a fufficient proof of Divine Providence, that fuch things did come to pass at any time: Which being once granted, it will follow, that God may be believed with as much providence and wisdom, now to cause them to furceafe, as anciently he used the fame. Neither ftands it with reason, that those Laws, which were given to the Universe, concerning the natural courfe of things, and uncertainty of future events, fhould be lightly or always tranfgreffed: But only at fuch a time, when either there was a juft caufe; as, when the worship of the true God was almoft banished out of the World, refiding only in a little part thereof, to wit, in Judea, where it neceffarily was to be (as it were) fortified with new aids, against the impieties wherewith it was compaffed about; or when Chriftian Religion (whereof by and by we fhall fpeak more particularly) was firft, by God's Decree, to be published throughout the World.

SECT.

SECT. XVIII.

And that now there is fuch liberty in offending.

"Here are thofe who are wont to doubt of the

much wickednefs hath, like a Deluge, overfpread the face of the whole Earth; which Divine Providence, they contend, if there were any, would have made its chiefeft business to reftrain and fupprefs. But this is easily answered, confidering that when God had created Man with freedom to do good and evil, referving abfolute and immutable goodness to himself, it had not been reasonable to have put fuch a stop to evil actions, as fhould have been contrary to that liberty. Howbeit, to keep Men from fin,God ufeth every kind of means, which is not repugnant to the liberty aforefaid. Such is the ordaining and publishing of the Law, together with inward and outward admonitions, both by threats, and alfo promifes. Nor doth he suffer the effects of wickednefs to fpread fo far as they might have done: Whence it is, that all kind of government could never yet be fubverted, nor the knowledge of Divine Law utterly extinguished or abolished. Neither may thofe delinquences which are permitted to be done amongst Men, be thought altogether unprofitable; fince that (as before we have touched) they may be ufed either for the punishment of other no lefs lewd tranfgreffors; or for the chastisement of fuch as fometimes wander from the way of vertue; or laftly, to exact fome worthy pattern of patience

patience and conftancy from fuch as have made good proficiency in the School of Picty and Vertue. Laftly, even they whofe wickedness feems to be winked at for a time, are wont to pay dearly for it at laft; and to be reckoned withal the more feverely, because they have been long forborn Infomuch that it is plain, they fuffer what God would, who have done what He would not.

SECT. XIX.

Infomuch that good Men are oppressed.

BUT, and if fometimes there seem to be no

punishment at all inflicted upon profane Offenders, and even fome good Men (which may occafion the weak to be offended) are fore oppreffed by the infolencies of the wicked, who many times make them not only to lead a wearifome and miferable life, but also to undergo a difgraceful death; we are not prefently to banifh from humane affairs the Providence of God, which hath been proved, as we have now faid, by ftrong reafons; but rather (as the wifeft fort of Men have thought) we fhould conclude and argue thus.

SECT.